Monthly Archives: September 2009

It is significant in the history of Islam because it was a temporary sanctuary for Prophet Muhammmad saw and Abu bakr As Siddiq in their journey of migration from Makkah to Madinah.

The Quraysh were waiting for moments to assassinate the Prophet saw. And some young men who were ready to kill Prophet Muhammad saw were already waiting outside that night. His house was sieged. Now and then they would peek waiting for Prophet Muhammad to go out in the morning giving them the opportunity to kill him.

Allah protected Prophet Mohammad saw and he escaped them. Jibrael a.s. came to the Prophet s.a.w. and ordered him not to sleep in his bed and informed him of the plot of his people. Ali bin Abi Talib slept in his bed instead. Then prophet Muhammad s.a.w. went out and stood at his door with a handful of dust which he blew to them. Allah prevented them from seeing Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and he recited Yasin 36: 1-9

Even though Madinah was in the north of Makkah, but Prophet Muhammad saw and Abu Bakr ra took a different route than the usual track to Madinah and went down south instead. They took refuge in the cave at Jabal Thawr which is 5 miles from Makah for three days.

Abu Bakr first entered to explore the cave and be sure that it was safe, closed all holes with pieces torn off from his clothes, cleaned it and then asked the Prophet [pbuh] to step in. The Prophet [pbuh] went in and immediately laid his head in Abu Bakr’s lap and fell asleep.

Suddenly Abu Bakr’s foot was stung by a poisonous insect. It hurt so much that his tears fell on the Prophet’s face. The Prophet [pbuh] immediately applied his saliva on Abu Bakr’s foot and the pain went off on the spot. They confined themselves to this cave for three nights, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Quraish, on the other hand, were quite baffled and exasperated when the news of the escape of the two companions was confirmed. They brought ‘Ali to Al-Ka‘bah, beat him brutally and confined him there for an hour attempting desperately to make him divulge the secret of the disappearance of the two ‘fugitives’, but to no avail. They then went to see Asma’, Abu Bakr’s daughter, but here also their attempts went in vain. While at her door Abu Jahl slapped the girl so severely that her earring broke up.[Rahmat-al-lil’alameen 1/96; Ibn Hisham 1/487]

The notables of Makkah convened an emergency session to determine the future course of action and explore all areas that could help arrest the two men. They decided to block all avenues leading out of Makkah and imposed heavy armed surveillance over all potential exits. A price of 100 camels was set upon the head of each one.[Bukhari 1/554] Horsemen, infantry and tracers of tracks scoured the country. Once they even reached the mouth of the cave where the Prophet [pbuh] and Abu Bakr were hiding. When he saw the enemy at a very close distance, Abu Bakr whispered to the Prophet [pbuh]: “What, if they were to look through the crevice and detect us?” The Prophet [pbuh] in his God-inspired calm replied:

Companions of the Prophet
Bukhari :: Book 5 :: Volume 57 :: Hadith 5

Narrated Abu Bakr:

I said to the Prophet while I was in the Cave. “If any of them should look under his feet, he would see us.” He said, “O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two (persons) the third of whom is Allah?”

This is the cave which Allah referred to in surah tawbah 9:40

If ye help him not, still Allah helped him when those who disbelieve drove him forth, the second of two; when they two were in the cave, when he said unto his comrade: Grieve not. Lo! Allah is with us. Then Allah caused His peace of reassurance to descend upon him and supported him with hosts ye cannot see, and made the word of those who disbelieved the nethermost, while Allah’s Word it was that became the uppermost. Allah is Mighty, Wise. (40)

Abu bakar As Siddiq ra was worried of Prophet Muhammad’s safety. If the mushrikeens were to find them, they would cause harm to the prophet saw. But Allah protected them. Allahu Akbar!

It was really a Divine miracle, the chasers were only a few steps from the cave. For three days Muhammad [pbuh] and Abu Bakr lived in the cave and Quraish continued their frantic efforts to get hold of them. Someone called ‘Abdullah bin Uraiquit, who had as yet not embraced Islam, but was trusted by Abu Bakr, and had been hired by him as a guide, reached the cave after three nights according to a plan bringing with him Abu Bakr’s two camels. His report satisfied the noble ‘fugitives’ that the search had slackened. The opportunity to depart was come. Here Abu Bakr offered the Prophet [pbuh] the swift animal to ride on. The latter agreed provided that he would pay its price.

Among those who assisted

‘Abdullah, the son of Abu Bakr would go to see them after dusk, stay the night there, apprise them of the latest situation in Makkah, and then leave in the early morning to mix with the Makkans as usual and not to draw the least attention to his clandestine activities.

‘Amir bin Fuhairah, while in the company of other shepherds of Makkah tending his master Abu Bakr’s flock, used to stole away unobserved every evening with a few goats to the cave and furnished its inmates with a plentiful supply of milk.

Throughout Prophet Muhammad saw and Abu Bakar ra stay in the cave, it was a young girl who brought them food and water. She was Asma binti Abu Bakar As Siddeeq.

This brave young girl used to cover great distances between Makkah and Mount Thawr at night; the difficulty and isolation of the journey, the presence of watchful enemies, did not deter her. She knew that by saving the life of the Prophet saw and his companion (aso her father) will help them reach their goal of going to Madinah. She was supporting the religion of Allah, and working towards making His word supreme on earth. So, she undertook her difficult mission every day, ever alert and striving to conceal herself as she walked and climbed the mountain, until she had brought whatever supplies and news she was carrying to the Prophet saw an his companion. Then she would go back down to Makkah under cover of darkness.

She was tested severely, and proved to be as solid as rock, on the day the mushrikeen surrounded her and asked about her father. She denied knowing anything, and they placed sever pressure on her. So much so that Abu Jahl struck a blow that sent her earing flting from her ear. But this did not weaken her resolve or her detrmination to keep her secret hidden. She kept up her mission of taking food and news to the Prophet saw and his Companion, until the time came for them to leave the cave and head for Madeenah.

She had already brought them provisions for the journey, but when she checked the cloth in which they were wrapped, she found that she had nothing in which to tie it apart from her own girdle. She told her father, who told her to tear it in two and use one piece to tie the water skin an dthe other to tie the cloth holding the food.

Hence Asma’ was known as Dhat an-Nitaqayn, she of he two girdles or she of two belts.

Ramadhan is coming to an end. Alhamdulillah the children have been able to perform their fasting and have been diligently been doing other form of worshipping. The keyword here is improvement. We should be better than what we were on the last Ramadhan, Insya Allah.

We started off by reading the book “The gift of eid by Shazia Nazlee”.

And then we discussed the sunnah and the etiquette of eid together.

1. Saying Takbir.

It is mustahaab to recite the takbeer. Allah says in Surah Al Baqarah 2: 185 (interpretation of the meaning)

The month of Ramadân in which was revealed the Qur’ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadân i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allâh intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allâh [i.e. to say Takbîr (Allâhu-Akbar; Allâh is the Most Great) for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. (185)

Thus Alhamdulillah we learned the true reason why we are doing the takbeer. It is to MAGNIFY ALLAH and to BE GRATEFUL TO HIM for having guided you.

The time for takbeer on Eid al-Fitr starts from the night before Eid until the imam enters to lead the Eid prayer.

Allaah is Most Great,
Allaah is most Great,
there is no god but Allaah,
Allaah is Most great,
Allaah is most great,
and to Allaah be praised).

Saying takbeer when coming out of one’s house to the prayer place and until the imam came out was something that was well known among the salaf (early generations).

Listen to the examples of the earlier generation concerning the takbeer
It was narrated that al-Waleed ibn Muslim said: I asked al-Awzaa’i and Maalik ibn Anas about saying Takbeer out loud on the two Eids. They said, Yes, ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar used to say it out loud on the day of al-Fitr until the imam came out (to lead the prayers).

It was narrated in a saheeh report that ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sulami said, “They emphasized it more on the day of al-Fitr than the day of al-Adha.”. Wakee’ said, this refers to the takbeer. See Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 3/122/

Al-Daaraqutni and others narrated that on the morning of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Ibn ‘Umar would strive hard in reciting takbeer until he came to the prayer place, then he would recite takbeer until the imam came out.

Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated with a saheeh isnaad that al-Zuhri said: The people used to recite Takbeer on Eid when they came out of their houses until they came to the prayer place, and until the imam came out. When the imam came out they fell silent, and when he said takbeer they said takbeer. See Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1/121

Men should raise their voices reciting this dhikr in the marketplaces, mosques and homes, but women should not raise their voices.

Thus we learned to day that
1. reciting takbeer is an important sunnah.
2. The timing is on the night of eid until the imam comes out for eid prayer.
3 Reciting takbeer is not to ignite sadness but to GLORIFY Allah.
4. Man should recite it with a raised voice, while women in a lower voice.

2. Doing Ghusl before going out for prayer
It is mustahab to perform ghusl

3. Eat before going out for Eid Prayer
Rasulullah s.a.w. would eat an odd number of dates before going out for prayer.

The Two Festivals (Eids)
Bukhari :: Book 2 :: Volume 15 :: Hadith 73

Narrated Anas bin Malik,:

Allah’s Apostle s.a.w. never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of ‘Id-ul-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. Anas also narrated: The Prophet s.a.w. used to eat odd number of dates.

4. You should wear your best clothes

One should give care that they wear the best clothes they have. Clothes should be neat and clean. Care must be taken though that woman should not be displaying beauty at the praying place. And perfume should not be used by them.

5. Offering Congratulations.

The etiquette during eid is also to offer congratulations. One can say

The Muslims are unanimously agreed that the Eid prayer is prescribed in Islam. Some of them say that it is Sunnah, some say that it is fard kafaayah (a communal obligation) and some say that it is fard ‘ayn (an individual obligation), and that not doing it is a sin.

Even though the opinions differ, but it is clear that Eid Prayer is important for all Muslims to do. So Insya Allah we will.

The Two Festivals (Eids)
Bukhari :: Book 2 :: Volume 15 :: Hadith 97

Narrated Um-‘Atiya:

We were ordered to go out (for ‘Id) and also to take along with us the menstruating women, mature girls and virgins staying in seclusion. (Ibn ‘Aun said, “Or mature virgins staying in seclusion).” The menstruating women could present themselves at the religious gathering and invocation of Muslims but should keep away from their Musalla.

7. Going to prayer via one route and back with another

This is as per this hadith

The Two Festivals (Eids)
Bukhari :: Book 2 :: Volume 15 :: Hadith 102

Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah:

On the Day of ‘Id the Prophet s.a.w. used to return (after offering the ‘Id prayer) through a way different from that by which he went.

As explained in the islam-qa website
It was said that the reason for that was so that the two routes would testify for him on the Day of Resurrection, for the earth will speak on the Day of Resurrection and say what was done on it, both good and bad.

And it was said that it was in order to manifest the symbols of Islam on both routes, or to manifest the remembrance of Allaah (dhikr), or to annoy the hypocrites and Jews, and to scare them with the large number of people who were with him. And it was said that it was in order to attend to the people’s needs, to answer their questions, teach them, set an example and give charity to the needy, or to visit his relatives and uphold the ties of kinship.

And Allaah knows best.

Insya Allah we will try to perform all the sunnahs and etiquettes of eid. The day to glorify and thank allah for being victorious throughout the ramadhan, Insya Allah.

We reread our lapbook again. This time looking at their notes on the Laylatul Qadr. Since we are now in the midst of the last ten nights of Ramadhan. Subhanallah! Time really fast.

We also read the children’s book, “The Night of Decree – Shazia Nazlee”

We added a few more points for the laylatul Qadr section. That is the emphasis of dua’. When we last went for umrah, we brainstormed ideas on dua’s that we can make. Subhanallah! I found it helpful, when we have make a list and sectioning them into categories. This Insya Allah help us (them also) focus on the so many things that we can ask from Allah. Indeed as in the hadith

Abu Huraira: Make Dua and be assured of being answered, and know that Allah does not answer a Dua from a careless heart which is not concentrating (Tirmidhi).

Insya Allah, we want to try our best to concentrate on what we want to ask from Allah. Lest it become a mere routine. Said without meaning it.

Anyway, you can find our list of dua’s in this document. In page 12, Insya Allah.